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Gambia: The Treasure of Generosity
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The Daily Observer (Banjul)
EDITORIAL
26 February 2008
Posted to the web 26 February 2008
What is the treasure of generosity? There is the case of a disciple of the noble ones, his awareness cleansed of the stain of stinginess, living at home, freely generous, openhanded, delighting in being magnanimous, responsive to requests, delighting in the distribution of alms. This is called the treasure of generosity.
The story of young Jainaba Jallow, whose gruesome picture appeared on our yesterday's edition, depicts the reality of Gambian humanitarianism. Jainaba, a two year old living in Sukuta, had been at the mercy of chance thanks to an imposing tumor on her left eye, which left her and her needy family hopeless, when some hard-to-come-by angel, apparently their neighbor, Fatou Kanyi, an employee at Standard Chattered Bank, caught sight of her. It was this good woman that walked into the offices of the Daily Observer with the sad news of Jainaba.
Barely hours after the publication of her story, young Jainaba has won the heart of some wonderful Samaritan, not a disciple, but some one that has been living a life that matches that of the disciple mentioned above. Under five hours after the papers of the Daily Observer hit the news stands, generous Gambian citizens (including the First Lady, Madam Zainab Yahya Jammeh, through the office of the Vice President, Aja Dr Isatou Njie Saidy) had donated D80, 000 towards the treatment cost of the ill-fated youngster. By the end of the day, the sum gathered had reached D110, 000 - including the original D10, 000 donated by the Daily Observer Company.
Well, this is just a clear manifestation that Gambia is a nation in which people live in harmony, peace and respect for each other. Good neighborliness and social cohesion is a Gambian culture. These good social traits have been with us for time immemorial. And this is what makes our Gambia the treasure of generosity.
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Give Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar. The anonymous givers, The First lady, as well as Fatou Kanyi the exemplary neighbor who helped amplified the case of young Jainaba, all ought to be commended for their timely response. We do hope that those who cling on the illusion that it is only foreign philanthropists that can give aid of this nature will abandon such thought. We can help each other just as much as foreigners help us.
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